Angular-socket wrench



G. R. FULLENWIDER.

ANGULAR SOCKET WRENCH.

nPPucArloN man nic. 20. :919.

Reissued Apr. 26, 1921.

WITNE SS? INVENTOR GEORG: R. FULLENWIUER UNITED STATES GEORGE R.FULLENWIDER,

0F FAIRFIELD, MONTANA.

ANGULAR-SOCKET WRENCH.

reissue led December 20,

To aZZ whom t may concem Be it known that I, GEORGE R. FULLEN- WIDER, acitizen of the United States, and a iesident of Fairfield, in the countyof Teton and State of Montana, have made certain new and usefulImprovements in An lar- Socket lVrenches, of which the following is aspecification.

My present invention relates to improvements in angular socket wrenches,and my object is the provision of an eil'ective and eiiicient tool ofthis nature, which will be compact and convenient in use, and which willprovide for the utilization of a plurality of implements, with meanswhereby to normally house such im lements, provide for their independentuti ization, and normally prevent loss thereof.

With this general statement in mind, my present invention resides in thefeatures of construction, arrangement and operation to be now describedin detail in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part ofthis specication, and wherein Figure 1 is a perspective viewillustrating the practical application of my improved Wrench;

Fig. 2 iS therethrough 5 Fig. 3 is a similar view enlarged and partlybroken awa Fig. `4 is a detailI perspective view of the end cap of thewrench;

Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive are detail perspective views illustratingdii'erent forms of implements utilized with the tool, and

Fig. 9 is a detail section taken substantially on line 9 9 of Fig. 3.

eferring now to these figures, and particularly to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, myimproved wrench consists of a tubular barrel or casing 10, having at oneend a portion 11 extending at an angle to the longitudinal axis of thetool, the latter being open at both ends and having its main or bodyportion of considerably greater length than its angular extension 11.Telescoping within the body portion of the barrel or casing 10 is atubular shaft 12, provided at one end adjacent the angular end 11 of thebarrell with extending apei'tured ears 13, diametrically opposed to oneanother, and having at its opposite end an enlarged head 14, whichopposes and abuts the adjacent end of the body of the barrel 10 for apurpose which will be presa longitudinal section taken to provide forSpecication of Beissued Letters Patent. Reigsued Apr. 26 192L OriginalNo. 1,310,473, dated July 22, 1919, Serial No. 253,430, led September10, 1918.

Application for 1919. Serial No. 346,378.

ently described, this head 14 having diametricaliy opposed openin s 15and having an internal groove 16 the itter of which is mostplainl seenin ig. 3.

Hthin t e angular end 11 of the barrel .10, is telescoped a rotatabletubular engaging implement 17, having a polygonal socket 18 at its outerend and having pro'ecting ears 19 at its inner end diametrlca ly opposedto one another and provided with apertures so that the adjacent ends ofsaid reduced portions projecting through the ears 13 of the shaft 12 andthe implement 17 is thus permanently mounted withinthe angular end 11 ofthe barrel by a taper pin 22 which is forced through the other openingsof the ball 20 and through the openings of the ears 19 of said implement17, so as to complete the connection, the barrel or casing 10 havingside openings 23, as seen in Fig. 1, the introduction of the taper pin22, and also for its removal when desired.

The headed end of the tubular shaft 12, which of course projects beyondthe adjacent end of the barrel or casing 10, receives therein the splitsleeve 24 of a cap 25 normally closing the outer end of the tubularshaft, the several sections of split sleeve 24 having ribs adjacenttheir free ends which 'when the cap is in operative position en agewithin the groove 16 internally of hea 14, in order to hold the cap andprevent accidental displacement and loss thereof.

Certain of the sections of the split sleeve 24 also have side recessesforming openings 2T at diametrically opposite points of the sleeve toaline with the openings 15 of the head 14, although of slightl reduceddiameter with respect to the atter openings. The handle of the wrenchisin the nature of a cylindrical rod 28, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, inthe former figure in active position, and in the latter osition ininactive position, and this bandi; may be extended at either end throughthe openin s 15 of the head 14 and consequently throng the openings 27of the split sleeve 24, the latter -of which beingil of reduced diameterserve to bring about a clasping of certain of the sections of the splitsleeve upon the handle so as to frictionally grip the latter and hold 1tin various positions against displacement and loss while in use.

1n addition to its polygonal socket 18, the permanent socket implement17 has an inner annular groove which supports a spring clamping ring 29in order to hold various supplemental engaging implements in activeposition against danger of displacement and loss. Several ot' theseimplements are shown in Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, and each has apolygonal body 30, with a reduced annularly grooved extension 31 at oneend thereof, the body 30 in each case intertiting the polygonal socket18 and the reduced extension 31 being engageable by the split ring 29.The form o the extension 31 is such that the ring 29 will be expandedupon the forcible insertion of the implement into the socket, and willsnap into the annular groove and embrace the extension in such fashionas to secure and retain it in the socket during its intended use, whenceit may be withdrawn by the application of force sufficient to expand thering out of the groove.

The body 30 of the implement shown in Fig. 5, has a squared extension 32to interiit a nut having a squared socket. The body 30 of the implementshown in Fi 6 has a screw driver 33, the body 30 of ig. 7 has valveengaging pins 34 for use in grinding or seating valves and the body 3()of Fig. 8 has a polygonal socket 35 of a different size than that of thesocket 18 of the permanent implement 17.

Each of the implements shown in Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, with the`exception of the implement of Fig. 6 is tubular, so as to receive thehandle 28 therethrough when the several detachable implements are housedwithin the hollow shaft 12, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, thehandle 28 being also housed therein and extending through suchimplements. The handle, it will be noted, is of reducedlength ascompared to that of hollow shaft 12, so that space thus remains for thereception of the screw driver member of Fig. 6.

Thus it is obvious that when it is de sired to use the tool, the cap 25is first pulled out and the handle 28 removed from the space within thehollow shaft 12 along with the ,several im lements also housed therein,and from which the implement desired for use is selected. This implementis then thrust within the permanent socket member 17, cap 25 isreplaced,and handle 28 is extended to the desired point through the openings 15of the head 14, as seen in Fig` 1. The detachably held implement is thenplaced in connection with either a nut, valve, screw or the like, as thecase may be, and withthe barrel or casing firmly held to support thetool in proper position, as by means of the operator grasping itsintermediate knurled exterior portion 36, as seen in Fig. 1, the handle28 may be grasped and by rotating the head 14 a similar movement istransmitted through the tubular shaft 12 and through the universalconnection 2 to the permanent socket member 17 and thus through thepolygonal socket of the latter to the detachably held implement.

It is obvious therefore that my invention provides a comparativelysimple and inexpensive tool, which may be economically and readilyutilized for various purposes, for which implements of this characterare intended,ras well as one which will be strong and durable in use andeii'ective and efficient in its results.

It is obvious also that in order to properly maintain the universalconnection at the an le between the body of the barrel or casing 10 andits extension 11, it is necessary that the natural thrust of thehollovvr shaft 12 by the person operating the same in use must be takenup, this function being in the present construction performed by theenlar ed head 14 at the outer end of the said tubu ar shaft, which abutsthe adjacent end of the said barrel or casing, and the shoulder of themember 17 which abuts the end of the an lar extension. The wall rtionsof the arrel in the inside and outside of the angular bend coperate togive the structure maximum stiffness at the bend, and serve also toretain the connecting ears 13 and 19 against outward displacement.

While the implement 17 has been designated herein as a socket member,and is described as being adapted to embrace the polygonal bod portions30 of the various engaging imp ements, it is obvious that the objects ofthe invention can in a measure be attained by forming the portion 18 ofthe engaging implement 17 as a stud member and the portions 3() of theengaging implements as sockets.

It will be apparent that the invention is otherwise susceptible ofembodiment in various structural forms, without departure from theessence thereof, wherefore the drawings and description are to be takenin an illustrative and not in an unnecessarily limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a continuous hollowbarrel or casing having an angular extension at one end integral andrigid therewith, asocket member rotatably intertting the said angularportion, a hollow shaft within the said barrel or casing having anenlarged head at its outer end abutting the adjacent end of the barrelcasing, and a universal connection between the inner end of the saidhollow shaft and the adjacent end of the said socket member.

2. A wrench including a hollow cylindrical barrel having an an larportion at one end and a socket mem r rotatably inter fitting the an larportion thereof, a hollow shaft rotatab e within the barrel casing andprojecting beyond the opposite end thereof, a universal connectionbetween the inner end of the hollow shaft and the said socket member,said rojectin portion of said shaft havin ings, a hand e in the form ofa rod movable into and throu h the said openings, and a removable caplfror normally closing the end of the hollow shaft.

3. A wrench including a hollow cylindrical barrel having an angularportion at one end and a socket mem er rotatably interftting the an larportion thereof, a hollow -shaft rotatabeuwithin the barrel casing andprojecting beyond the op osite end thereof, a universal connectionetween the inner end of the hollow shaft and the said socket member,said projectin portion of said shaft havin diametrica ly opposedopenings, a hand e in the form of a rod movable into and through thesaid openings, and a removable cap for normally closing the end of thehollow shaft, said cap havin means to grip the handle when the latter 1sthrust through 'the said o enings of the shaft, for the purpose descrid.

4. A wrench comprisin a continuous cylindrical barrel or casing aving anangular ortion at one end, a hollow shaft rotatably interfitting thebarrel or casin and having an enlarged head beyond an in engagement withthe opposite end of said barrel or casin a socket member rotatablyinterfitting t e angular portion of the barrel or casing, a universalconnection between the said socket member and the said hollow shaft, andan implement removably inten fitting the said socket member and of adiameter less than that of the hollow shaft. 5. A wrench comprising acontinuous cylindrical barrel or casing having an angular portion at oneend, a hollow shaft rotatably interfitting the barrel or casing, andhaving an enlarged head beyond and in engagement with the opposite endof said barrel or casing, a socket member rotatably interfitting theangular portion of the barrel or casing, a universal connection betweenthe said socket member and the said hollow shaft, an implement removablyinteritting the said socket member and of a diameter less than that ofthe hollow of the said shaft, and a removable cap normally closing theouter headed end of the said hollow shaft.

6. A wrench comprising a continuous cyvlindrical barrel or casing havingan angular portion at one end, a hollow shaft rotaiametrica y opposedopen-v tably interfitting the barrel or casing, and having an enlargledhead beyond and in engagement with t e opposite end of said barrel orcasing, a socket member rotatably 1nterfitting the angular ortion of thebarrel or casing, a universa connection between the said socket memberand the said hollow shaft, and an implement arranged to interit the saidsocket member, said socket member having an internal polygonal portionand an internal clamping means, and said implement having a polygonalortion and a grooved extension respective y for projection within theinner olygonal portion and engagement by said c amping means of thesocket member, for the purpose described.

7. A wrench comprising a cylindrical barrel or casing having an angularportion at one end, a shaft rotatable within said barrel and projectinbeyond the opposite end thereof, a rotata le member withm the angularportion of the barrel, having a polygonal socket and an internal groove,a universal connection between said member and the shaft, a splitclamping ring within the groove of the said rotatable member.

and an implement within the rotatable' member havlng a polygonal portionand a grooved extension to coact respectively wlth the polygonal socketand clamping ring of the rotatable member, for the purpose described.`

8. A wrench comprising a c lindrical barrel or casing having an angularportion at one end, and a rotatable socket member within the saidangular portion, a hollow shaft rotatable within the barrel or casing, auniversally movable connection between the inner end of the said shaftand the said socket. member, said shaft extending at its opposite endbeyond the respective end of the barrel or casing and having a headprovided with diametrically opposed openings, a cap for closing theouter end of the hollow shaft having a split sleeve telescoping withinthe said head of the shaft, certain of the sections of said split sleevehaving recesses forming openings to aline with the openings of the head,and of reduced diameter with respect to the diameter of the said headopenings and a handle consisting of a rod for extension through saidalined openings, as described.

9. A device of the 'character described, comprising a hollow barrel ofsubstantially uniform cross-section having an angularly diverted portionat one end thereof, a socket member rotatably carried by said portion, ashaft'within the said barrel and a universal connection between theinner end of the said shaft and the adjacent end of the said socketmember, the barrel portion at the angular bend constituting a housingfor the universal connection and a support to prevent outward distortionof the connected lind portions of the shaft and socket mem- 10. A deviceof the character described, comprising a hollow barrel or casin havingan angular extension at one en integral and rigid therewith, a socketmember rotatably intertting the said angular portion, a hollow shaftwithin the said barrel or casing, a universal connection between theinner end of the said hollow shaft and the adjacent end of the'saidsocket member, the socket member being adapted to operatively engage asupplemental implement, and the hollow shaft being adapted to serve as areceptacle for said implement when not in use.

11. A device of the character described, comprising a hollow barrel orcasing having an an ular extension at one end integral and rigidtherewith, a socket member rotatably interfitting the said angularportion, a hollow shaft within the said barrel or casing, a universalconnection between the inner end of the said hollow shaft and theadjacent end of the said socket member, said universal connection beingprotectively housed within the hollow casing at the angle thereof, thesocket member being adapted to operatively engage a supplementalimplement, and the hollow shaft being adapted to serve as a receptaclefor said iinplement when not in use.

12. The combination with a Wrench, in`

cluding a rotatable member, of a socket member having a polygonal socketportion and clamping means in said socket member, and an implementhaving a olygonal portion and a grooved extension or reception withinthe polygonal socket of said socket member and engagement by theclamping means thereof.

13. The combination with a wrench inclucling a rotatable member, of asocket member having a polygonal socket and an internal peripheralgroove, a resilient clamping ring retained by said groove, and animplement having a complementary polygonal portion and a groovedextension to coact respectively with said socket member and clampingring.

14. The combination with a Wrench including a rotatable member, of asocket member, an implement, said socket member and implement havingregisterin complementary polygonal portions andg grooves, and aresilient clamping ring disposed withing said rooves and operable bymovement of said socket member and implement for detachably holding saidsocket member and implement in fixed relation with each other.

15. A tool com rising the combination of an engaging mem er having asocket a portion of which is of non-circular contour, re-

silient detent means retentively housed in said socket, an implementremovably associated with the engaging member and having a non-circularportion adapted to' re'ster in the non-circular portion of the soc etand a reduced portion adapted for coperation with the detent means, andmeans for manipulating the engaging member to operate t e implement.

16. A tool comprising the combination of a tubular handle portion havinga laterally deflected terminal part, an engaging member formed with asocket and rotatably mounted on the handle and having a portion nestingin said laterally deieeted art, an implement removably associated witthe engaging member and having a portion nesting in the socket thereof,and means mounted on the handle portion for transmitting rotary movementto the engaging member.

17. A tool com rising the combination of a barrel member aving aterminal portion deiiected to form a diver ing extension, a rotatablemember mounte for operation in said barrel and including a shaft portionjournaled in the barrel, an implement engaging member 'ournaled in theextension and a universal )oint connecting said shaft and engagingmember; said shaft portion including means having bearing1 engagementwith the barrel member effective to limit its longitudinal movementtoward the engaging member, said shaft portion affording operableengagement for accomplishing rotation of the rotatable member.

18. In a tool the combination of a barrel member having a terminalportion extending at an angle from the major axis, a rotatable member oerably mounted in the barrel member and including a shaft portion, an enaging member in the terminal portion an ,a universal connection operablyjoining the shaft and enga 'ng member; said rotatable member inclu inmeans coperating with the barrel mem er at both sides of the universalconnection eiiective to limit the delivery of thrusts thereto from theshaft and engaging member.

19. In a tool the combination of a barrel having a handle portion and aterminal portion deected by an angular bend, a rotatable member operablymounted in the barrel and including a tool engaging member guided insaid terminal portion and means or rotating the tool engaging memberfrom the other extremity of the barrel, the oitions of the barrel at thebend provi in support for connected portions of the too engaging memberand rotating means and forming compression and tension elements onoposite sides of the tool engaging member e ective to transmit thrustsfrom the handle portion thereto and to maintain the enga ing member inproper angular relations ip to the handle portion.

20. In a wrenchconstruction, the combination of a tubular barrel havingan angularl diverted end portion, an operating shai'l: rotatably mountedin the barrel, said shaft being insertible through the end of thebarrel, an enga ing member mounted in the diverted portlon for rotationon an axis at an angle to the axis of the shaft, said engaging memberbeing insertible through the end of the diverted portion, and a devlceoperatively connecting the shaft and engaging member and including aremovable element eiective to retain them in operative positions, thebarrel portion forming a housing encompassing said device and beingprovided with an aperture permitting removal and replacement `of saidelement.

21. In a tool, the combination of a barrel member having a terminal inat an angle from the major axis, a. rotata le member o erably mounted onthe barrel and inclu ing an engaging member guided in the terminalportion thereof and means for rotating the same, said engaging memberincluding means having bearing ortion extendengagement with saidterminal portion to limit its movement thereon toward the operatingmeans, and an implement supported in operative engagement with theengaging member.

22. An angular socket wrench comprising the combination of a continuousbarrel having an angularly deflected end portion and a. handle portion,a shaft rotatable in the handle portion, a socket member journaled inthe deflected portion for rotation on an axis at an angle to the shaft,and a joint member housed in the barrel and having hinged connectionwith the shaft and engagmg member to transmit rotar)T movement rom oneto the other, said joint member being insertible to assembled positionthrough an end opening of the barrel.

- In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE R. FULLENWIDER.

Witnesses:

FRANoEs K, Ginnnsrm, RAYMOND L. GREIST.

It is hereby certified that in Reissue Letters Patent No. 15,093,granted April 26,

1921, upon the application of George R. Fullenwider, of Fairfield,Montana, for an improvement in Angular-Socket Wrenches," an errorappears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows:Page 4, line 37, claim 12, after the Word means insert the Word housed;and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correctiontherein that the same may conform to the record of the case in thePatent Office.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of June, A. D., 1921.

[SEAL] KARL FENNING,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. C1. 81-177.

